How To Get Skins in League of Legends: Complete Guide

League of Legends isn’t just about climbing ranked or mastering champions, it’s also about style. With hundreds of champions and thousands of skins available, the game has one of the biggest cosmetic systems in all of gaming. Some skins are simple visual upgrades, while others completely transform how a champion looks, sounds, and feels in-game. Because there are so many different skin types, prices, and unlock methods, figuring out the best way to get the skins you actually want can be confusing. The good news is that not every skin requires spending RP, and many can be earned just by playing smart during events. In this guide, we’ll break down all the ways you can get skins in League of Legends, explain the different skin rarities, and show you the fastest and most efficient methods to build your collection without wasting money.

League of Legends Skin Tiers

League of Legends skins are split into several rarity tiers, and each one offers a different level of detail, polish, and exclusivity. At the lowest end are basic skins, which usually focus on simple model changes or color swaps without altering animations or sounds. Moving up, epic skins add much more flair with improved visual effects, upgraded ability particles, and custom recall animations that make champions feel fresher in-game. Legendary skins go a step further by fully reworking a champion’s presentation, including brand-new animations, unique voice lines, and completely redesigned abilities. Mythic skins sit in a more exclusive space, often tied to special events or systems and designed to feel premium and harder to obtain. Ultimate skins are some of the most ambitious cosmetics in the game, featuring evolving visuals, interactive elements, and multiple forms that change as you play. Exalted skins push that idea even further with several transformations, refined visuals, new voice work, and limited-time availability that adds to their rarity. At the very top are Transcendent skins, which represent Riot’s highest level of cosmetic design, combining advanced visuals, immersive sound design, and experimental features meant to showcase what’s technically possible. Each tier exists to match different tastes and budgets, giving players plenty of ways to customize their favorite champions.

How To Get Skins in League of Legends

Getting skins in League of Legends goes beyond just knowing the rarity tiers. Each skin type has its own rules when it comes to availability, pricing, and how you can unlock it. Some cosmetics are always in the store, while others are tied to events, special systems, or limited-time windows that may never return. Here’s a clear breakdown of how every major skin tier can be obtained today.

1. Basic Skins

These are the easiest skins to get. Most can be bought directly from the in-game store, usually starting at around 520 RP. They also show up very often in Hextech chests, and you can unlock them by rerolling three skin shards into a permanent skin. If you’re building a collection on a budget, this tier is the most accessible.

2. Epic Skins

Epic skins make up the bulk of modern releases. They’re available in the store for 1350 RP and frequently drop from chests. You can also get them by rerolling skin shards, making this tier fairly easy to obtain through both spending RP and regular gameplay.

3. Legendary Skins

Legendary skins sit at a higher price point, usually 1820 RP, and offer full champion overhauls. While they can appear in chests or rerolls, the odds are noticeably lower compared to basic or epic skins. Most players unlock these either by buying them directly or getting lucky with loot.

4. Mythic Skins

Mythic skins aren’t sold for RP in the normal store. Instead, they’re earned through premium event passes or bought with Mythic Essence in the rotating Mythic Shop. The shop refreshes regularly, so availability changes often, making timing important if you’re aiming for a specific skin.

5. Ultimate Skins

Ultimate skins are available for direct purchase during their store availability, usually priced at 2775 RP. Like other high-tier skins, they have a very small chance to appear in chests or rerolls, but most players get them by buying them outright.

6. Exalted Skins

Exalted skins use a completely separate system. They’re unlocked through the Sanctum using Ancient Sparks in a gacha-style setup. You can’t buy these skins with RP or get them from normal loot. A guaranteed top-tier reward usually requires a large number of rolls, making this one of the most expensive and RNG-heavy options.

7. Transcendent Skins

Transcendent skins are the rarest cosmetics in the game. They’re only sold during specific, limited-time windows and cost a very high amount of RP, starting around 32,000 RP. Once the sale period ends, these skins are gone for good and cannot be obtained through chests, rerolls, or any other system.

Understanding these systems helps you decide whether to grind, wait for events, or spend RP wisely. With the right approach, you can build a skin collection that fits both your playstyle and your budget without wasting resources.

Best Ways to Get Skins in League of Legends

The most common way to unlock skins is simply by playing the game. Hextech chests, event orbs, and skin shard rerolls can all reward permanent skins over time, though this route usually takes patience and consistent play. While this works well for standard and epic skins, it’s far less reliable for higher-tier cosmetics, and options like Exalted or Transcendent skins aren’t obtainable this way at all. For players who don’t want to wait days or weeks hoping for the right drop, there are faster alternatives. One of the quickest options is using 1v9, where skins, bundles, battle passes, and other cosmetics can be gifted directly at lower prices than the in-game store. This removes the randomness of chests and the grind for shards, letting you get exactly the skin you want with fast delivery instead of relying on luck.

FAQs

Can you still get free skins in League of Legends?

Yes, free skins are still very much a thing in League of Legends. Riot brought them back after heavy community feedback, and there are several legit ways to earn them just by playing. You can unlock skins through Hextech Chests, rerolling three skin shards into a permanent random skin, and by earning seasonal rewards like Victorious skins. Honor rewards also matter, with special skins tied to good behavior over time. On top of that, platforms like 1v9 offer free lootboxes that can be opened every 24 hours, which reward store credits you can later use toward skins. You can also use lootpoints cashback to open even more boxes, making it easier to work toward cosmetics without spending RP directly.

How much do Exalted skins cost?

Exalted skins don’t have a fixed price because they use a gacha-style system. Instead of buying them outright, you spend Ancient Sparks, which cost 400 RP each. While some players may get lucky early, the system guarantees an S-tier Exalted skin after 80 pulls. In the worst-case scenario, that means spending up to 32,000 RP to secure one. Because of this system, Exalted skins are among the most expensive and exclusive cosmetics in League of Legends.

Conclusion

Getting skins in League of Legends can be as simple or as deep as you want it to be. Whether you prefer earning cosmetics through gameplay with chests and skin shards, unlocking rewards through events and passes, or going straight for the skins you want, there are options for every type of player. Understanding skin tiers, availability, and acquisition methods helps you avoid wasting RP and makes it easier to build a collection you actually enjoy. From free skins earned over time to rare, high-end cosmetics with limited availability, League offers something for everyone. With the right approach, you can grow your skin collection efficiently while staying in control of both your time and spending.